Shirt protector



Nov. 8, 1955 R. J. DEE

SHIRT PROTECTOR Filed April 6. 1955 INVENTOR. fiaserjflee United States Patent SHIRT PROTECTOR Robert J. Dec, Bryn Mawr, Pa., assignor to Market Industries Co., Inc., San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of California Application April 6, 1953, Serial No. 347,056

6 Claims. (Cl. 2067) The present invention relates generally to devices for protecting freshly laundered collar-attached shirts and the like and it relates more particularly to a device which will protect the collar of a freshly laundered shirt against soiling and crushing.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful shirt protector, as Well as a commercial package made up of a freshly laundered collar-attached shirt assembly with the aforesaid novel shirt protector. Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel shirt protector, integrally formed of cardboard or like inexpensive material having a generally rectangular main portion serving as the support for the body of a freshly laundered collar-attached shirt or the like, and having novel means for overlying the collar of the shirt in such a manner as to protect it against inadvertentsoiling and crushing.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description, appended claims and accompanying drawings.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown, in the accompanying drawings, a form thereof which is presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities disclosed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters indicate like parts throughout:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my novel shirt protector, in blank form as it appears after having been stamped from a flat sheet of cardboard or the like, and before being folded into final assembled form.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the shirt protector of Fig. 1, shown in partially-folded position.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a freshly laundered collar-attached shirt, assembled with the shirt protector of Figs. 1 and 2 to form the novel commercial package of the present invention.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally along the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

In Figs. 1 and 2 there is shown a shirt protector forming one embodiment of the present invention, which may be stamped or otherwise integrally formed from a flat sheet of cardboard or like inexpensive material which is relatively form-retaining and resists crushing, but which can be readily folded along score lines.

As best indicated in Fig. 1, the novel shirt protector. of the present invention is made up of five main parts, namely an elongated, generally rectangular main body portion 10, an end wall portion 12, a top portion 14, a wing-tab portion 16, and a prop portion 18. As shown in Fig. 1, the side edges of the portions 10, 12 and 14 extend in continuation of each other so that the blank is generally rectangular in configuration, except for the end defined by the wing-tab portion 16 which, as will be hereinafter described, is somewhat curved.

. The body portion and the end wall portion 12 are connected by a score line 20, which, as shown in Fig. 4,

enables the end wall portion 12 to be bent upward into a plane generally at right angles to the body portion.

The prop portion 18 is stamped from, and extends generally longitudinally along, both the end wall portion 12 and the top portion 14, in the blank form of Fig. 1.

parallel cut-lines 22; the score-lines 30 separating the top portion 14 from the end wall portion 12 and enabling the top portion 14 to be bent into a'plane generally at right angles to the plane of the end wall portion and in spaced, generally parallel relationship to the main body portion 10 as indicated in Fig. 4. In other words, the score-lines 20 and 30 enable the portions 10, 12 and 14 to be given a generally J-shaped configuration, as shown in Fig. 4.

The prop portion 18 is provided with a transverse scoreline 32 extending intermediate the parallel cut-lines 22; the score-line 32 being parallel to, but spaced outwardly from, the score-lines 30 connecting the end wall portion 12 and the top portion 14. The score-line 32 separates the prop portion 18 into a base portion 34 and an inclined portion 36. In theblank form of Fig. l, the base portudinal dimension from the score-line 28 to the score-lines 39. The longitudinal dimension of the base portion 34 is slightly less than the longitudinal dimension from the score-lines 34) to the score-line 28. The significance of these-dimensions will hereinafter become apparent.

The wing-tab portion 16 is defined in part byan outer curved convex cut edge 38 extending generally transversely intermediate the side edges of the blank. A pair of curved cut-lines 40 extend laterally inwardly from the side edges of the blank in spaced relationship to the outer curved cut edge 38 and serve to separate the wingtab portion 16 from the free edge of the top portion 14. The inner ends of the cut-lines 40 are curved longitudinally inwardly as at 42, the curved portions 42 being connected by a transverse score-line 44. It is apparent that the wing-tab portion 16 is connected to the top portion 14 only by the relatively narrow center strip 46 disposed intermediate the curved ends 42 of the cut-lines 40. It can also be seen that, by bending the connecting strip 46 downward about the score-line 44, it is possible to position the wingtab portion 16 at an angle to the top portion 14 as indicated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4.

The lonigtudinal dimension from the score-line 44 to the center of the outer curved cut edge 38 of the wing-tab portion 16 is slightlyless than the longitudinal dimension from the score-line 32 to the score-line 28 of the propportion 18. The significance of these relative dimensions will become apparent hereinbelow.

As can be seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the curved ends 42 of the cut-lines 40 form rounded projections 48 at the outer edge of the top portion 14, on either side of the connecting strip 46 of the wing-tab portion 16. This slightly recesses the score-line 44 and facilitates bending and insertion of the wing-tab portion into the collar of the shirt, as described hereinbelow.

I In Fig. 3, there is shown a freshly-laundered shirt 5d of generally conventional construction having an attached collar comprising a neck band 52 and left and right wings 54. As is customary, the bosom of the laundered shirt is folded into more or less rectangular shape, employing a conventional folding board or form (not shown); the bosom (together with the attached sleeves) being first folded back alonglongitudinal fold. lines spaced somewhat inward of the side edges of the bosom, after which the lower portion of the shirt is folded backward and upward along a transverse fold line spaced generally midway of the bosom. During thisfolding operation, the main body portion of the shirt protector is positioned intermediate the folding form and the back of the shirt, so that the end wall portion 12 and the top portion 14 protrude from the shirt and can be folded into collar-protecting J-shaped configuration, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, after which the wing-tab portion 16 is bent downward and the free ends thereof inserted beneath the wings 54 of the shirt collar.

Finally, the prop portion 18 is bent downward along the score-line 28 and upward along the score-line 32, so as to position the base portion34 in a plane parallel to, but appreciably below the top portion 14, with the curved saw-tooth edge 24 bearing against the inside of the neck band 52 at the rear of the neck opening.

Since, as mentioned above, the longitudinal dimension of the base portion 34 is somewhat less than the longitudinal dimension from the score-lines 30 to the score-line 23, the base portion 34 and the inclined portion 36 form an obtuse angle, as indicated in Fig. 4. This angle may be of the order of 120 degrees, more or less, with the upper end of the inclined portion 36 forming an angle of approximately 60 degrees, more or less, with the underside of the top portion 14. In this position, the base portion rests against the back panel of the shirt and its sawtooth cut edge 24 bears against the inside of the neck band 52 near the bottom thereof as mentioned above.

As also mentioned above, the longitudinal dimension of the wing-tab portion 16, from the score-line 44 to the center of the outer curved cut edge thereof, is slightly less than the longitudinal dimension of the inclined portion 36 so that the free edge of the wing-tab portion seats against the front of the shirt bosom (which is at a slightly higher level than the back wall of the shirt), with the center connecting strip 46 of the wing-tab portion also forming an angle of approximately 60 degrees, more or less, with the underside of the top portion 14'.

Thus, as indicated in Fig. 4, the center connecting strip 46 of the wing-tab portion and the inclined portion 36 converge upwardly at approximately the same angle with respect to the top portion 14. The wings 54 of the shirt collar retain the wing-tab portion 16 in place and prevent it from shifting (toward the right in Fig. 4) when downward pressure is applied upon the topv portion 14. In like manner, the disposition of the base portion 34 against the back wall of the shirt and with its cut edge 24 bearing against the back of the neck band, prevents the inclined portion 36 from shifting (toward the left in Fig. 4) when downward pressure is applied to the top portion 14.

It can be seen, therefore, that the inclined portions 36 and 46 provide a rigidly braced box-like structure, of generally frusto-pyrarnidal cross-sectional configuration, affording extremely high resistance to crushing at the point of greatest possible stress, namely at the front of the collar of the laundered shirt.

The top portion 14 covers the periphery of the collar and protects it against soiling, in an obvious manner.

Being formed from a fiat sheet of cardboard or like inexpensive material in a single operation, employing an appropriate cutting and scoring die, the novel shirt protector of the present invention can be manufactured quickly and easily at extremely low cost.

The novel structure of my shirt protector lends itself to quick and' easy installation by skilled laundry workers. Thus, I have found that, after a little practice, laundry workers are able to assemble the shirt protector 4. within a freshly laundered shirt in a matter of a second or two.

The shirt can be held in its final folded position by means of an encircling band 56, of conventional construction, as shown in Fig. 3. If desired, the band can be made wider so as to cover substantially all of the body of the shirt and to protect it against soiling, in a manner well known in the art.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms and, therefore, the foregoing description is to be considered merely as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being made to the appended claims as indicating the scope of this invention.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent:

1. A shirt protector for a collar-attached shirt, said protector being integrally formed from a sheet of cardboard or like material and comprising an elongated main body portion, an end wall portion, a top portion and a wing-tab portion disposed generally in end-to-end relationship and havinggenerally parallel side edges formed in continuation of each other, said main body portion and said end wall portion being connected by a transverse score-line, said wing-tab-portion having a relatively narrow center strip connected to the free edge of the top portion by a generally transverse score-line, said wingtab portionand said top portion being elsewhere separated by a pair of transverse cut-lines extending inwardly from the side edges thereof, a prop portion formed generally centrally of, and extending longitudinally along, both the end wall portion and the top portion, said prop portion being defined by a pair. of spaced longitudinal cut-lines connected at one end by a generally transverse cut-line located in the endv wall portion spaced somewhat from the first-mentioned score-line, the prop portion being connected at its other end to the top portion by a transverse score-line spaced somewhat from the score-line for the center connecting strip of the wing-tab portion, said prop portion having an intermediate transverse scoreline dividing it into a base portion extending toward the transverse cut-line and. an inclined portion extending toward the end score-line and located entirely within the top portion, said end wall portion and said top portion being connected by a pair of aligned transverse cutlines extendinginwardly from the side edges of the protector to the longitudinal cut-lines defining the prop portion and being disposed longitudinally intermediate the ends of the base portion, whereby, in unfolded blank form, the base portion extends longitudinally into both the end wallportion and the top portion, said body portion, end wall portion and top portion being foldable generally at right angles along their respective connecting score-lines to provide a more or less J-shaped configuration, said wing-tab portion being foldable downwardly along its score-line to an acute angle relative to the top portion and being insertable. beneath the wings of the shirt collar, the prop portion being foldable downwardly along its end score-line to position its inclined portion at an acute angle relative to the top portion and being foldable upwardly along its intermediate score-line to position its base portion in a plane generally parallel to and intermediate the planes of the body portion and the top portion, with the transverse cut edge of the base portion bearing against the neckband of the shirt collar at the rear of the neck opening.

2. A construction according to claim 1 wherein the longitudinal dimension of the inclined portion of the prop portion is slightly greater than the longitudinal dimension from the score-line to the center of the free edge of the wing-tab portion, whereby, in assembled form, the free edge of the wing-tab portion bears against the bosom of the shirtwhile the base portion rests against the back wall of the. shirt to provide agenerally enclosed box-like braced f'rusto-pyramidal support for the front of the shirt collar.

3. A construction according to claim 2 wherein, in

assembled form, the center connecting strip of the wing tab portion and the inclined prop portion converge upwardly and form generally equal and opposite angles with the underside of the top portion, said angles being of the order of 60 degrees.

4. A shirt packaging form composed of a single sheet of paperboard having a pair of substantially parallel crease lines to provide a base portion to support the body of a folded shirt, a back panel hingedly connected to said base portion along one of said crease lines and adapted to overlie the back of the collar of said shirt, and a cover part hingedly connected to said back panel along a second of said crease lines and adapted to overlie the collar of said shirt; and a reenforcing panel structure cut out from said cover part and said back panel by spaced side cuts extending across said second crease line and by a cut in said back panel between said side cuts, said reen forcing panel structure being hingedly connected to said cover part by a third crease line extending between said side cuts, and said reenforcing panel structure having a hinge connection dividing it into a front section adapted to depend from said cover part and a rear section for extending generally horizontally toward said back panel, said rear section being of a length sufficient to terminate adjacent said back panel.

5. A shirt packaging form comprising a base portion adapted to support the body of a folded shirt, an upright back panel hingedly connected to said base portion along an edge of the base portion and adapted to overlie the back of the collar of said shirt, and a cover part hingedly connected to said back panel along the upper edge of the back panel and adapted to overlie the collar of said shirt; and a reenforcing panel structure cut out from both said cover part and said back panel by spaced side cuts extending across the upper edge of said back panel and by a cut in said back panel between said side cuts, said reenforcing panel structure being hingedly connected to said cover part along a line extending between said side cuts, and said reenforcing panel structure having a hinge connection dividing it into a front section adapted to depend from said cover part and a rear section for extending generally horizontally toward said back paneLsaid rear section being of a length sufiicient to terminate adjacent said back panel.

6. A shirt packaging form composed of a single sheet of flexible material and comprising a base portion adapted to support the body of a folded shirt, a back panel hingedly connected to said base portion along a first crease line and adapted to lie adjacent the back of the collar of the shirt, and a cover part hingedly connected to said back panel along a second crease line parallel to said first crease line and adapted to overlie the collar of the shirt; and a reenforcing panel structure cut out from both said cover part and said back panel by spaced side cuts extending across said second crease line and by a cut in said back panel between said side cuts, said latter cut being spaced from said first crease line to leave material in said back panel between such cut and said first crease line, said reenforcing panel structure being hingedly connected to said cover part by a third crease line extending between said side cuts adjacent the front end of said cover part, a fourth crease line being provided in said reenforcing panel structure dividing it into a front section adapted to depend from said cover part and a rear section for extending generally horizontally toward said back panel, the material of said reenforcing panel structure cut out from said back panel rendering said generally horizontally extending rear section of a length suflicient to terminate adjacent said back panel to reenforce the form against fore and aft rocking movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

